Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons the Chicago Bulls Don't Need Melo
With only eight days left until the trade deadline, the big questions are "Will Carmelo Anthony be traded?and "Who will he be traded to?"
Hopefully the answer for question two is not the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls are showing they are amongst the elite teams in the NBA without Melo, so why even think about trading for him?
Here are the 10 reasons why the Chicago Bulls do not need to make a trade for Carmelo Anthony.
10. He Doesn't Fit the Offensive System Like Luol Deng
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Luol Deng has finally shown up.
After years of injuries and mediocre play, Deng has finally settled into a system that fits him best.
He is playing as the third scoring option and not the second.
Tom Thibodeau has Deng settling for driving baskets and threes, instead of long twos and isolation plays.
Carmelo would want to be the second option behind Derrick Rose and push Carlos Boozer to the third offensive option.
You then are faced with the problem of Derrick Rose and Carmelo fighting for touches.
Luol Deng knows his role and has settled into it nicely.
9. Carmelo Is Not Worth Any Package the Bulls Could Offer
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During all the talk of trades for Carmelo Anthony, the Bulls have, for the most part, backed out.
Mainly due to what Denver wants in return for Carmelo.
Some of the players the Nuggets would want to have traded to them for Melo are: Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer and James Johnson.
To go along with that, the Bulls would have to give up draft picks.
For a player who is just known for scoring, is he really worth everything except the kitchen sink?
8. Melo Is All Scoring, No Defense
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The picture says it all.
He is just staring at the ball instead of trying to defend it.
With Tom Thibodeau as head coach, the Bulls have turned into one of the best defensive teams in the league.
If Carmelo comes into town, he will bring his lazy defense with him.
Thibadeau would have no time to deal with his laziness on the defensive side of the ball.
Unlike Derrick Rose (who has turned into a very good defensive point guard under Thibs), Melo has always been an awful defender and is not willing to put the effort forth to learn.
Defense wins championships; maybe that's why he hasn't won anything in Denver.
7. Carmelo Would Screw Up the Team Chemistry
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Every player on this Bulls team trusts each other and believes everyone is a part of this journey as a TEAM.
Melo has never been seen as a "team player", instead going down the path of individual stardom.
With such a young core, the Bulls have many years ahead of them to continue the maturation process together as a team.
Bring in Melo.
The chemistry goes out the window, with players fighting for the ball and throwing the "team" defense out of kilter.
6. Derrick Already Has His Superstar
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In Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose, the Bulls have one of the best one-two punches in the game.
Boozer has long been known for his lack of defense and teamwork.
But with the Bulls, he is flourishing with Derrick and this Bulls team.
He is the inside scoring threat the Bulls have needed since Elton Brand and is one of the best rebounding big men in the game.
Boozer is the superstar Derrick Rose needs beside him, not Carmelo.
5. Derrick Rose Is the Leader, Why Bring in a Follower?
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Derrick Rose has taken it upon himself to make this HIS team.
When Boozer and Noah have been injured, Rose has stepped up his play to counter the injuries.
Rose has led this team to its best start since a man who wore the No. 23 was playing for them.
In Denver, Carmelo has always been the scoring leader, but Chauncey Billups has been the team leader.
If Melo hasn't understood the role of a leader in Denver alongside one of the best in NBA history, how is he going to understand that role with Rose?
The Bulls have three leaders in Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and quite possibly a fourth in Luol Deng.
Why get a "superstar" that is a follower then?
4. Defense, Defense, Defense
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One cannot say enough about how important defense is.
A great defense and average to good offense will be out a team with a great offense and lousy defense.
The Bulls have stopped the likes of the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, not with offense, but with great defense.
Obviously the Bulls had to score points in order to beat those teams, but the defense starts the offense.
Melo is all offense all the time.
Once again, defense wins championships.
Ask the Celtics and Lakers.
3. Joakim Noah Is a Superstar for the Chicago Bulls
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If Noah were to be traded for Melo (which isn't happening), the Bulls would be losing a bigger part of their team than what they would be getting back in return.
Noah is one of the best big men in the league as far as rebounding and defense go. His offense has improved, but can still be better.
He clogs the middle for the Bulls, which allows people like Rose and Boozer to play a little bit more freely on defense.
Melo might bring scoring to the table, but Noah does so much more for the team than that.
Noah is the heart and soul for this Chicago Bulls team; Melo would be the complete opposite.
2. The Bench Is Key in the Playoffs
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If the Bulls make a trade for Carmelo, it would wipe out one of the best benches in the league with Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, Omer Asik, Kurt Thomas and C.J. Watson.
Out of those bench players, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and Taj Gibson would be the best bets to be traded.
Brewer is one of the best individual defensive players in the league.
Korver is one of the best three-point shooters in history.
Gibson is one of the best big men coming off the bench in the NBA.
As the playoffs draw nearer, the bench becomes a more valuable piece in the puzzle for a championship.
Once again, ask the Celtics and Lakers.
1. No Need for a Star, The Bulls Already Have a Superstar
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Derrick Rose is developing into one of the best players in the NBA and is a lead candidate for MVP. The so-called "need" of a superstar is just a way to be greedy.
The Bulls don't need to trade away most their team to be considered a contender like Miami and Boston.
They are already there.
The Chicago Bulls have shown the ability to beat top teams without Melo.
As the saying goes, if it isn't broke, don't fix it.
